Miles Davis : Acoustic vs Electric Period

Rigsby

This subject has divided Davis fans down the middle for years. I thought it would be an interesting topic to discuss here. Personally I like both. Miles was always moving foreward and trying out new things. If this was not the case we would not have had albums like "Bitches Brew" and "In a Silent Way". Admittedly some of the music he put out in the last two or three years of his life was a bit weak. I think that to have an "either-this -or -that music"(while you may have preferences ) attidude to Miles Davis is showing a misunderstanding of the complex personality of the man.

mike65

They are both equally valid and both contain good and not so good Davis, though latter stuff was generally poorer. I gues some early fans are like
pre-electric Dylan heads! You'll never convince them.

For what its worth I can't say Miles Ahead or Kind of Blue is better or worse from an intrinsic musical point of view than In A Silent Way or Filles de Kilimanjaro (transitional I admit) for example.

Mike.

Setun

It's a hard call. I've been turned off listening to his later-electronic albums because of all the bad press around them, although I hear Tutu is amazing, I think? Having said that, some of my favourite Miles Davis albums are probably (at the moment anyway) Bitches Brew and Filles de Kilmanjaro.
Mid-to-late 50s Davis and mid-to-late 60s Davis was when he was at his best imo, electronics or no electronics.

Rigsby

Daddio wrote:

It's a hard call. I've been turned off listening to his later-electronic albums because of all the bad press around them, although I hear Tutu is amazing, I think? Having said that, some of my favourite Miles Davis albums are probably (at the moment anyway) Bitches Brew and Filles de Kilmanjaro.
Mid-to-late 50s Davis and mid-to-late 60s Davis was when he was at his best imo, electronics or no electronics.

Yes, "TUTU" is a nice album (admittedly with more than a little help from Marcus Miller). Some other electric albums worth a listen IMO would be "Jack Johnson" (with John McLaughlin), "Live-Evil" and "Pangaea". It is after the latter album that the "bad press" first appeared. In the late 70's , through ill health he retired from music for a while, later to reappear with the album "The man with the horn". Although not a bad album he sounds a bit weak on it . He fully recovered and some good albums were to follow ("Tutu" among them ). My own personal all time favourites are "Miles Ahead", "Kind of Blue", "Bitches Brew", "In a silent Way" and "Live-Evil.

Setun

Yeah I know Jack Johnson and Live-Evil, both are fantastic. I always felt that Miles Davis' most highly regarded albums were really elevated to "classic status" due to his sidemen.

Must check out Tutu then.

Rigsby

Daddio wrote:

. I always felt that Miles Davis' most highly regarded albums were really elevated to "classic status" due to his sidemen.

.

That's true to a point, but it's also true that a lot of musicians were unknowns until they passed through Davis' bands (even the late great John Coltrane benefited immensely by being in the "Kind of Blue" quintet) only to go on to have successful careers in music. It was a mutual benefit IMO.

shatners basoon

"Unknowns" would be a bit harsh. Maybe just not as well known. Apparently Miles used to poach all the good musicians from other people's bands to form his own super groups. That being said its obvious that as a career move playing with Miles was a good one for all involved. None of the stand out musicians on most of miles' albums are ever the man himself really to be honest but i'd still rate him highly as a player, especially on slower songs where he can get a bit more feeling in.

Personally i prefer his acoustic stuff as a whole but absolutely adore in a silent way and bitches brew, i've only heard little of the rest of that period but i didn't think it dated well- too cheesy/gimmicky for me!

Rigsby

shatners basoon wrote:

"
Personally i prefer his acoustic stuff as a whole but absolutely adore in a silent way and bitches brew, i've only heard little of the rest of that period but i didn't think it dated well- too cheesy/gimmicky for me!

If you get the chance to listen to "Aura" from 1985 take it. It is a kind of a big band affair. IMO it is one of the best of the later albums ( like a contemporary Gil Evans band ).

Setun

Yeah I've heard about that album, don't think I've ever seen it though. Is it good as a Miles Davis album, not just a "later Davis album"?

Rigsby

Strictly speaking it ("Aura") is not a Davis album at all as he did'nt write the music. It was written by the Danish composer Palle Mikkelborg. Most of the musicians are Danish, with the exception of John Mc Laughlin. Miles is like a guest soloist, a part he performs very well. Now you mention it, I have 'nt seen it on cd ( I have it on LP. ) Definitely stands out as one of the best from this period in it's own right IMO.

Buddhapadge

I have Aura on CD. It's good, but Miles sounds a little lost on some of the trickier parts...